On April 18, Sparkle Teens Josh Ford, Ashley Sarmiento, Marco Masa, Princess Aliyah, Gaea Mischa, Zyren Dela Cruz, and James Graham recounted their journey from Kapamilya child actors to Kapuso teen stars.
At the launch of Sparkle Teens, which LionhearTV covered, Ford cited his experience as a child star in ABS-CBN’s ‘On The Wings of Love’.
“…parang when I first saw myself on TV, parang ‘Wow!’ Parang ang sarap po talaga sa feeling like I’ve accomplished something… first-time ko pong teleserye was ‘On The Wings of Love’, and when I saw myself there, I was like, ‘Wow! That me.'”
Sarmiento talked about working in the Kapamilya shows ‘Goin Bulilit’ and ‘Flordeliza’.
“Ako po nag-start po ako sa commercial, three years old pa lang po ako sinabak na po ako ng mom and ng tita ko sa modeling. Tapos noong six years old po ako nakuha po ako sa ‘Goin Bulilit’, and then doon po pumasok ‘yung mga teleseryes, like ‘Youngs’, and then nagka-lead role po ako, ‘Flordeliza’, as Flor.”
She also noted her projects on GMA Network, such as ‘Wish Ko Lang’, ‘Tadhana’, and ‘Magpakailanman’ and her first teleserye, ‘Nakarehas na Puso’.
Masa revealed that he started as a child actor on GMA Network in ‘Cielo de Angelina’.
He recalled his Kapamilya projects, such as ‘Nathaniel’ and ‘Beauty and The Bestie’.
“And then ‘yung after po noon, nabigyan po ako ng opportunity sa ABS, first show ko po sa ABS is ‘Huwag Ka Lang Mawawala’, and then doon na po nagtuloy-tuloy ‘yung career ko, nag-lead roles na rin po like ‘Nathaniel’, ‘Super D’, and mga movies na rin like ‘Beauty and the Bestie’, at nakasali rin po ako sa ‘Goin Bulilit’, kasama ko po si Ashley.”
He then listed his recent projects under GMA Network, such as Start-Up PH.
Aliyah shared her experience joining ABS-CBN’s ‘The Voice’ and her Kapuso role in ‘Start-Up PH.’
She added, “And actually, nagte-theater acting rin po ako dati which is ‘yung international show, although West End production, ‘Yung The Sound of Music, so more on singing po talaga ko. And nag-singing competition na rin po ako like The Voice, Lola’s Playlist.”
Mischa also discussed her experience participating in ‘The Voice Kids’ Season 4.
“I’m from the Voice Kids season 4, 2019, and I made it to the finals– under team Leah po. Actually, I was the steal deal of the season. I was from Team Sarah po, and then I was /turned into Team Leah.Â
“So pandemic po, I got discovered by Cornerstone, me and Antonio are under Cornerstone, and pinag-audition po ako ng Cornerstone under Sparkle, and then nakuha po ako.”
Dela Cruz highlighted his stint in ‘Bagani’ and ‘Sandugo’ up to his role in ‘Lolong’.
Graham listed his previous Kapamilya projects, such as ‘2 Good 2 Be True’ and’ Flower of Evil’, and a stint in a LizQuen project.
” I was a Mossimo Ambassador po, doon po ako na-discover. Pinag-audition po ako sa Star Magic, nagkaroon din po ako ng shows from Star Magic, such as ‘2Good2BeTrue’, ‘Flower of Evil’, and ‘yung when I was younger po, ‘yung pinaka-una ko po, is kila LizQuen.”
He then mentioned his roles in ‘Pepito Manaloto’, ‘Love at First Read’, and ‘Wish Ko Lang’.
In Sparkle Teens, GMA Network introduced 19 teen stars to grow their star power and talent.